The International Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities Invention 5(07): 4900-4911, 2018 DOI: 10.18535/ijsshi/v5i7.11 ICV 2015: 45.28 ISSN: 2349-2031 © 2018, THEIJSSHI 4900 The International Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities Invention, vol. 5, Issue 07, July, 2018 Research Article Assessing Stress Factors and Coping Strategies among Primary Schools Adolescents in Moshi District, Tanzania Edith Mwananzila, Muteti Catherine Mueni Mwenge Catholic University Moshi, Tanzania ABSTRACT: The purpose of the study was to determine factors attributed to primary schools adolescents’ stress and common stress coping strategies they use. Four research questions guided this study. The study employed mixed research approach. Descriptive cross-sectional design was used. Participants were 225 primary schools’ adolescents and 15 primary class teachers and five primary heads of schools. Data were collected through structured questionnaire, semi structured interviews and focus group discussion. Data were analysed using both content and thematic analysis. The findings of the study reveal that, most of adolescents had experienced stress even though some of them were not sure whether they were stressed or not due to lack of knowledge regarding stress and the sources of stress. Furthermore, the study found that two thirds of primary school adolescents often experienced symptoms of stress implying that they had high stress levels. Similarly, the study found that majority of the pupils often employed positive coping strategies. The study concludes that primary school adolescents in Moshi municipality were subjected to high levels of stress which affects their psychological wellbeing although they had not been able to address the sources of stress. Adolescents lacked the awareness of signs and symptoms of stress which increased the level of stress among them. Moreover, the pupils reported nervousness, anger, anxiety, sickness and lack of concentration during class hours. Primary schools adolescents were not able to device relevant coping strategies against stress. The Ministry of Education should put more emphasis on the issue of stress and coping strategies in primary schools by introducing well-structured formal support systems. The family should learn to support and be helpful for adolescents faced with stress, no matter how they are adapting to the stress. Moreover, schools should pay attention to students’ trouble with learning and apply appropriate strategies to enhance their le arning effectiveness. Key words: Stress Factors, Coping Strategies Introduction According to Baron and Branscombe (2012) stress is unpleasant emotional and physical reaction that people experience as they strive to achieve their expectations. Erikson (1972) as cited by Woolfolk, Hughes and Walkup (2008) argues that the stage of identity versus role confusion of psychosocial development is characterized by the construction of identity which forms the major nuclear social conflict to resolve during adolescence. Similarly, failure to resolve the need for personal identity results into role confusion which tends to threaten individual’s psychological wellbeing (Woolfolk et al, 2008; Nurmi, 2004). Stress, in this regard, can be considered as resulting from threats that individuals face as they strive to know who they really are. Lahey, (2004) views stress as resulting from the perceived discrepancy between the demand of a situation on an individual and their ability to respond or to cope with it. Recent studies, in contrast, view stress as anything that results from a situation where demands exceed individual’s coping abilities of which in end poses a threat to an individual’s mental and physical health (Mayo Clinic Staff, 2012 as sited in Bulo & Sanchez, 2014). Stress affects people from all walks of life regardless of age, gender, civil status, political affiliation, religious belief, economic status and profession. It affects decision-makers such as politicians, managers, religious class, employees, housewives, students’, out-of school- youths, and even the jobless to mention but a few. Stress is found everywhere, that is, at home, with friends, in the office, in school, in the classroom among other places, thus, we cannot avoid it. The causes and levels of stress may vary from one person to the other. No person is free from stress, regardless of how privileged, reasonable, clever, and intelligent he might be (Mazo, 2015). Thus, primary school adolescents are not exceptional. They equally are affected by stress. Basic Education is of important because a pupil from primary level goes to secondary education level after passing the Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE). In the secondary level, the National Examination is administered at the end of each level. Pupils who succeed join Technical or Higher Education Level leading to various occupations. Therefore, all stressful situations which may affect pupils learning should be minimized to ensure good pupils learning. Coping strategies on the other hand, refer to methods used to increase an individual’s adaptation to stress by either removing the stress or limiting its effects (Compas, 2001). Coping strategies are vital adaptive methods to address stress. Frydenburg and Lewis (2004) argue that stressful experiences